Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre to expand with Second World War aviation exhibition

Work is set to begin on a planned expansion to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim with the New Zealand Government funded Tourism Growth Partnership (TGP) approving a development grant of $1.5 million.

Work on the new exhibition, which is expected to open mid-2016, is now set to commence within weeks.

Announcing the funding at this week’s TRENZ 2015 tourism conference in Rotorua Prime Minister John Key said the TGP grant would be “matched to the tune of nearly $14 million by the centre."

The funding will see the Centre expand, increasing its display space by a third to incorporate a major new Second World War aviation hangar that can also be used for conventions and exhibitions.

The exhibition will be built to the same acclaimed standard as the centre’s world-class Knights of the Sky exhibition, a display of Sir Peter Jackson’s collection of First World War aircraft and memorabilia, which has been an international drawcard for visitors to Marlborough including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Aircraft including a Hawker Hurricane, Avro Anson, Focke Wulf FW 190, Yakolev Yak 3, Stuka, and a MkXIV Spitfire, will be set in theatrical displays immersing people in the stories of WW2, including those of New Zealand pilots and aircrew who fought in the war. As with Omaka’s Knights of the Sky exhibition, a number of the aircraft on display will be maintained to a flyable standard.

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre Chairman, Brian Greenall, said the TGP funding “was brilliant”.

Greenhall stated “the exhibition is something we’ve been working towards for a long time, and the funding means we can start building right away, fit it out, and open it to the public. It enables us to provide an even more compelling experience for tourists.”

Destination Marlborough General Manager, Tracy Johnston, said the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre already had a great reputation for delivering a quality visitor experience. Johnston added “this expansion has also become the catalyst for the Centre’s team to develop a new range of high value experiences to attract both leisure and corporate travellers. The initial response to the new range of products from international travel buyers attending TRENZ this week has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The new Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre experiences include guided tours of both exhibitions combined with a between-the-wars cafe; a flying experience in a vintage Boeing Stearman open-cockpit biplane; a romantic package including a flight and luncheon in a vintage-themed marquee, and bespoke flying events.

For more information go to www.omaka.org.nz

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